Council OKs list of state, fed initiatives

Oak Ridge City Council recently approved its state and federal legislative agenda for this year, which is to inform state and federal officials about the city's projects, policies and priorities to help secure funding.

Oak Ridge City Council recently approved its state and federal legislative agenda for this year, which is to inform state and federal officials about the city's projects, policies and priorities to help secure funding.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park is the city’s top priority at both the state and federal levels, and the Uranium Processing Facility is also on both lists.

• Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport: Support funding through Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for all phases of study and planning; provide support to the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority.

• Brownfield and vacant blighted properties: Examine tax and fiscal policies that could enhance opportunities for private sector investment and redevelopment of brownfields and vacant, blighted properties; examine applicable polices in surrounding states that could have potential to assist Oak Ride and make Oak Ridge properties more competitive. Brownfields are abandoned industrial and commercial facilities available for re-use.

• Penalties and fees for Department of Energy non-compliance should restore Oak Ridge: Modification to the Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) and other relevant policies to require that penalties, fees, and mitigation associated with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA) activities on the Oak Ridge Reservation are invested in environmental restoration in the affected jurisdiction(s).

• Oak Ridge Reservation Communities Alliance (ORRCA): Continued cooperation and engagement to ensure local government involvement in federal and state cleanup decision and emergency response planning.

• Economic development incentives: Maintain the economic development grant, loan, and incentive programs that support economic diversification for the city of Oak Ridge, including "Fast Track" job assistance training and infrastructure programs; incentivize brownfield development.

• Funding for Oak Ridge school system: The Basic Education Program must be fully funded using a local capacity model that recognizes the Oak Ridge community's investment in education. Provide funding to implement the Tennessee Diploma Project, First to the Top requirements, mandates and for capital improvements; oppose efforts to authorize election of school superintendents.

• Manhattan Project National Historic Park: Urge congressional delegation to pass legislation to establish the park and authorize development of management plan.

• Uranium Processing Facility: Urge congressional delegation to support funding through National Nuclear Security Administration; participate in federal and state planning efforts to facilitate project development and implementation.

• Finish cleanup of the Oak Ridge Reservation: Urge DOE and Office of Management and Budget to request funding at the levels needed to complete timely cleanup of the Oak Ridge Reservation; urge congressional delegation to support appropriations at the level needed to complete site cleanup; cleanup solutions should minimize risk to Oak Ridge and avoid long-term institutional controls that stigmatize community.

• Rebuild water/wastewater infrastructure to support city compliance with Environmental Protection Order (EPA) administrative order: Continued cooperation with DOE on financing needed projects such as storm water retention basins and raw water pumping stations; EPA to agree to a more flexible timeline for implementation of the order, avoiding significant financial impacts to citizens.

• East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) site Interpretation: Begin implementation of Section 106 commitment from DOE for dual use of Oak Ridge Fire Station No. 4, with building use for normal Fire Department operations and needs and space dedicated for site historical interpretation.

• Timely, cost effective land transfers: Resolve problems in order to expedite transfer of surplus land use brownfields to the city for the purpose of economic development, at no, or extremely low cost, and with necessary indemnification.

• Penalties and fees for noncompliance should restore Oak Ridge: Need to modify Federal Facility Agreement to require that penalties, fees, and mitigation associated with CERCLA activities in the city be invested in environmental restoration in the city; current requirements penalize the city.

• Contract Renewals and Rebids: Incentivize contractors to invest in Oak Ridge community; benefits include live where you work, expansion of local tax base to support municipal services, quality of life, and enhance economic diversification; work with Small Business Administratrion to identify resources for training and support for local workforce needed for UPF and other DOE projects.

In addition, Council also approved several resolutions with little discussion and appointed Council members to several city boards, commissions and committees.

Page 3 of 3 - Council voted to transfer the ActFast Public Education Trailer to Morgan County and accepted a $91,660 Assistance to Firefighter grant award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for safety equipment.